Sorting and addressing machine.



No. 707,961. Patented Au 26, 1902.

s. ELLIOTT. SURTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 19, 1900. Renewed May 11, 1901.) (No Model.)

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Nu. 707,96l -Patented Aug. 26, I902.

' s. ELLIOTT- SORTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

(Application filed J's-u. 19, 19 00. Renewed May 11, 1901.)

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SOBTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE. (Application filed Jan. 19, 1900.Renewed May 11, 1901.)

Patented Aug. 26, I902.

(No Model.) '9 Sheets8heet 3.

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No. 707,961. Patnted Aug. 26, I902. S. ELLIOTT.

SORTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 19, 1900. Renewed May 11, 1901.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

W/TNESSES ATTOR/VEKY' No. 707,961 Patented Aug. 26, I902.

S. ELLIOTT.

SORTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE.

(Appiicaflon filed Jan. 19, 1900. Renewed May 11, 1901.)

(No Model.) 9 Sheets Sheet 5.

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ATTOHNEYLS No. 707,961. Patented Aug. 26, 1902.

S. ELLIOTT.

som'ms AND ADDRESSING MACHINE. (Application filed Jan. 19, 1900. RenewedMay 11, 1901.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

A TTOHNEYS "097023961. Patented Aug.'26', I902.

s. ELLIOTT. SORTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE. (Applicatin filed Jan. 19,1900. Renewed May 11, 1901.)

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'NoQ 207,96L Patented Aug. 26, I902. s. ELLIOTT.

SOBTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE. (Application filed JanIlQ, 1 900.Renewed May 11, 1901:)

(No Mo'del.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 8.

3C U 20" v VENTOB v Afro/Mfrs No. 707,96l. Patented Aug. 26, I902.

'S.- ELLIOTT. SORTING AND ADDRESSING MACHINE. (Application filed Jan.19; 1900. Renewed May 11, 1901. (N0 Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 9.

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STERLING ELLIOTT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELLIOTTCOMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SORTING AND ADDRESSlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,961, dated August26, 1902.

(No model.)

To all wit/07m it may concern:

Be it known that I, STERLING ELLIOTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sorting andAddressing Machines, ofwhich the followingisaspecification.

Myinventionisamachineforsorting plates, stencils, cards, &c., and whendesired for printing therefrom; and it consists of certain means adaptedto cooperate with plates having contact-bearings variously arranged todetermine the distribution of the plates, as fully set forth hereinafterand as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is afront elevation of a sorting and printing machine embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a transversesection on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a plan view; Fig.

4, an enlarged plan of the sorting or shifting end of the machine. Figs.5 and 6 are sectional views through the lower part of the table anddistributing-receptacle, showing the pusher in different positions. Fig.7 is a plan of Fig. 5 in part section. Fig. 8 is a transverse section onthe line 8 8, Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a perspective sectional view showingparts connected with the table and distributing-receptacle. Fig. 10 is aperspective sectional view of the part of the table below theprinting-head. Fig. 11 is a transverse section, enlarged, on the line 1111, Fig. 3. Fig. 12 is a transverse section, enlarged, on the line 1212, Fig. 3; Fig. 13, a vertical section on the line 13, Fig. 12; Fig.1a, a face view of the sorting-pawl detached; Figs. 15 and 16, enlargedsectional views through the lower parts of the receiving-receptacles andtable; Fig. 17, a side view showing the rear part of the apparatus; Fig.18, an elevation of part of the delivery-table; Fig. 19, a section onthe line 19 1!), Fig. 17; Fig. 20, an enlarged plan of the distributingdevices, showing an addition not in other figures. Fig. 21 is a sectionon the line 21 21, Fig. Fig. 22, a plan showing one form ofprinting-plate and regulating-bearings; Fig. 23, a plan showinganotherform of prin ting-plate and regulatingbearings.

In many establishments, as in newspaperoffices, publication-housesissuing serials, and in the conduct of the business of certainsocieties, it is necessary to send matter, generally mail-matter, atstated intervals for different periods of time to different persons orto different addresses. It is therefore necessary to maintain constantsupervision and inspection to avoid forwarding matter after anydetermined period, as the period of subscription, and this involvescare, time, and expense and is apt to result in mistakes. To avoid theseand other difficulties and insure the proper addressing of the matter tobe for- Warded until the expiration of any determined period and to thenarrest it and to effect this automatically, I make use of addressingblocks, sheets, or tablets, each provided with what I termregulator-bearings arranged to coact with automatic selecting mechanismwhich, generally combined with printing devices, retains in operativeconditions the sheets which are to be reused, but which serves to act onthe selecting mechanism so as to cause the discharge of suchaddressing-sheets as have been operated with for a predetermined. time.Fig. 22 illustrates one form of such printing card or tablet, which maybe made in various Ways, but which I hereinafter term a stencil, as theaddress is cut in a sheet 00, which is inclosed bya frame at. Thisstencil has at any suitable point a hearing so arranged as by itscontact with a movable sorter-bearing of a sorting-machine to actuatethe sorting devices, which determine the disposition of the stencils.Thus the sheet a: in the construction shown has a bearingpoint (in caseof monthly serials) for each month of the year, and the sorter of thesorting-machine by its contact with successive bearing-points onsuccessive passages of the stencil through the machine will cause thestencil to be restored to position among the active stencilsthat is,those to be reused; but when the sorter is so adjusted that it will failto make such contact, as when the stencil on its ninth use presents ahole y opposite the sorter, the latter is differently actuated andcauses such operation of the parts of the sorting-machine that thisstencil (and all having openings similarly arranged) will be dischargedas of no further use. It will be evident that the contact-point maybethe point of discharge-that is, that there may be eight holes y in thepositions 1 to 8, allowing the passage of the sorter, as it is onsuccessive months set in the eight different positions, but makingcontact therewith when it is set in the ninth position, it merely beingnecessary that the stencil have such a bearing or bearings that it willcoact in conjunction with the sorter to retain the stencil in active useduring a certain number of operations and will put it out of action onthe completion of the desired number.

As the particular construction of stencil is not essential and as thestencil is not here claimed, I will not further describe the same, butwill now describe one form of apparatus adapted for sorting stencils inthe manner above set forth.

A frame A supports a table B, upon which latter are the main operatingparts. At one end of the table B, above a channel U) between'guides 10,is a vertical distributing holder or rack G for a pile of stencils to beprinted upon, and at the opposite end of the table are similarreceiving-racks 0 C each rack consisting, as shown, of two verticalangle-bars 12 12 and a flat bar 13, the said bars erected upon a plate14, having an opening '0, correspondingin size to the exteriordimensions of the stencil X to permit the latter to pass downward intothe channel 10. The mass of stencils is placed in thedistributing-rackO. Thelower stencildescendsinto the channel to and ispushed from the rack between the guides 10 10 to a central position ofthe table B, Where the printing is effected, is then again pushed oversortingdevices, which cause the stencil to be carried onward eitherbetween the guides 16 16 to a position below the rack C for activestencils or backward between guides 17 17 below the rack C for discardedstencils, according as theistencil is to be reused or discarded. Theplate 14 of the rack O rests directlyon the guides 10 10, Figs. 5 to 8,and there is at the under side around the opening 2; a rib 18, which atthe end of the plate 14 nearest the printing devices is cut away, sothat the central portion w, Fig. 8, is lowest, and the pusher-bar 19 ofthe pusher 20 is inclined at the opposite sides, so that the center isthe highest. By this means the stationary bearing-point to will makecontact with the end of the stencil-frame which is next above the loweststencil-frame and will prevent the former from pushing forward with thelowest as it is pushed by the end or shoulder to of the pusher 20 evenif the frame is bent, while owing to the shape of the bar 19 andposition of the bearing to the lowest stencil will contact with theshoulder 10 of the pusher 20 even it the other parts of 'the stencil arebent out of position. By this means I absolutely insure the pushing outof the lowest stencil and the retention of that next above it, even ifthe stencil frames or plates should be bent. After one stencil has beenpushed-forward a pivoted dog 21 catches the inner edge of the frame,prevents its sliding back, and holds the stencil in position to makecontact with that which is next pushed out, so that the stencils pusheach other until that first pushed out is in a central position .beneaththe printing devices of any suitable character where the impression istaken. At the next movement this stencil is pushed away from theprinting devices and after two more movements is brought inposition'over the sorting device, an arm 22 extending over the channelto, which arm serves in part to hold the stencils in place astheyapproach the sorting device. The sorting device may be of anydesired construction, but, as shown, is provided with two parallelrock-shafts 23 and 24, Figs. 3 and 4, having arms 25 26, projecting fromopposite sides and normally lying underneath the path of the stencilsapproaching between the guides 10 10, so that the stencils in successionare brought above each set of arms. If the shaft 23 is rocked in thedirection of its arrow, or out ward, Fig. 4, the stencil will be thrownover between the guides 16 16. If the shaft 24 is rocked outward, thestencil will be carried over by the arm 26 and be laid between theguides 17 17. If a stencil is placed between either pair of guides, itis pushed onward by a pusher 20 or 20, secured to a pusher-bar 27 or 28.As shown in Figs. 15 and 16, there is beneath each rack O and C a plate29, the forward end of whichis beveled to form an incline c from theupper edge of the plate to the level of the top of the pusher-bar 27 or28, and in front of a shoulder 10 of the pusher is an incline 31. As aresult of this construction the lower stencil of the mass of stencils ineach rack lies upon the surface of the plate 29 with sufficient spacebeneath the face of each lower stencil and above the inclined plane 4)to permit the end of the approaching stencil to pass below the lowerstencil and up the incline o and then toward the top of the plate 29,lifting the mass of stencils above, and as the pusher-bar passes inwardthe projection 31 lifts the adjacent end of the stencil, so as to insureits taking a position parallel to the face of plate 29. All of thestencils which should be discarded must be thrown back by one divisionof the sorting device, so as to go into one of the racks-say, rack Cwhile the others or active stencils should go into the rack O. Thevarious devices'are so arranged that normally the stencils will bethrown into a position to go to the rack O by the rocking of the shaft23 or the swinging of its arms 25 and when stencils are thrown to theother side and deposited in the rack O by the action of the shaft 24 orits arms. As the stencilsare reversed when thrown to either side, theywill be deposited in the racks in the proper position to be takentherefrom when again used.

IIO

The sorter coacting with the stencils having bearing-points, asdescribed, is the means of mechanically directing the stencils to theirproper racks.

Assuming that the apparatus is to be used with addressing-stencils for amonthly periodical, the controller must be susceptible of twelvedifferent positions, and this is secured by providing the arm 22, whichis expanded at the end to form a plate, with openings 5, in which isadapted to be secured a controlling-pin E. If the publication is aweekly one, there are fifty-two openings in the arm, as shown in dottedlines. The arm 22 is carried by the frame G, hereinafter described, andmoves up and down, carrying the pin E with it. As shown in Fig. 11, eachopening is threaded to receive the threaded end of a box 33, containinga spring 34, which bears on a shoulder 35 of the pin E, which extendsthrough the lower end of the box. Each stencil X has a surface of suchdimensions that there may be a bearing in any one of twelve positionscorresponding to the positions of the openings .2. According to thenumber of times that the stencil is to be used the openings-.2 areplaced farther from the initial position on the plate. If, for instance,the stencil must be used nine times, (on a subscription for ninemonths,) the opening y, Fig. 22, is in the ninth position from thestarting-point. This stencil, therefore, will nine times pass thecontrolling-pin E, as the latter is successively set forward during ninemonths, and will pass into the rack C eight times, inasmuch as the saidcontrolling-pin will for eight times make contact, as it is carrieddownward, with the surface of the stencil; but on the ninth movement thecontrolling-pin will pass through the opening y and will make contactwith suitable controlling devices which bring into operation therock-shaft 24, as the stencil thereafter passes above the arms 26, sothat then said stencil will be conducted to the rack 0 The controllingdevices cooperating with the pin E may be of different kinds. As shownin Figs. 11 to 13, they consist of a plate 52 upon an arm 36, extendingfrom a rockshaft 37, the arm 36 being normally lifted by the spring 38to keep a position below the path of the stencils. Then the pin E passesthrough an opening y, it strikes the plate 52, depresses the latter andthe arm 36, and rocks the shaft 37, carrying with it an arm 39 on theshaft. The arm 39 carries a pin 39, which acts upon a spring-pawl 40 tocarry the latter from the shoulder tof a shifter-bar 41, which is thenthro n in the direction of its arrow by means of a spring The shifterbarcontrols the position of a T-headed pawl 43, carried by avertically-reciprocating slide 44 and engaging in one position or theother lugs 45 or 46 of two rack-bars 47 48, the teeth of which engagepinions 49 50 on the rockshafts 23 24. A spring 59 tends to carry thepawl 43 to the right, so that it may then en- 1 gage the lug 46 and liftthe bar 48. A lug 63 projects from the lower edge of the shifterbar andcarries a roll at the back, and at the front of the slide 44 is aninclined rib 44. A switch-bar is pivoted by a pin 54 below a plate 53and is held normally in a central position by springs 56 56, acting onpushrods 56 56, which bear on the opposite sides of a pin 57, projectingfrom the switch through a slot in the plate 53. At the back of theswitch is a rib 55. There is a lug 43 on the pawl, which engages the rib55. When the arm 39 is depressed by the sorter-pin E striking the plate52, the pawl 40 is released and the spring 42 shifts the bar 41 to theleft, and the downwardly-projecting lug 63 on the shifter-bar 41 bycontact with the projection 43 on the front of pawl 43, Fig. 14, causesthe pawl to swing over to the left, the length of the roller-lug 63being sufficient to hold the pawl 43 in its left-hand position until thepawl has descended sufficiently so that its lug 43 is at the left of therib 55 on the swinging switch-bar 55. During the completion of thedownward motion of the pawl 43 the force of the spring 59 is overcome bythe stronger spring 56 and the pawl is carried down until its left-handprojection strikes the incline 45. This compresses the spring 56 andallows the pawl to move to the right until it can snap back under theprojection 45. Then on its next upward movement it operates the rack-bar47, revolving the rocker-shaft 24. Just before the completion of theaforesaid downward motion the inclined rib 44 contacts with the roll onthe back of lug 63. This causes the bar 41 to return to its originalright-hand position, where it is again locked by the spring-pawl 40.WVhen the slidebar 47 rises to revolve the rocker-shaft 24, the pawl 43is free at the upper end of its stroke to be again moved to the right bythe spring 59, and it will descend at the right of the rib 55 unless itshould happen that the next stencil is also to be thrown out, in whichcase the lug 63 will be in its left-hand position and cause the pawl 43to remain at the left. instances, as when the stencils are heavy, it isdesirable to insure their retention by the carrying-arms 25 26 and tohold the stencils so that they cannot be readily moved, exceptlongitudinally, on the table. To this end I provide the carrying-armswith suitable grippers and also arrange grippers adjacent to the guides16 and 17. As shown in Figs. 20 and 21, each carrying-arm has a pair ofL- shaped levers 120, the rounded ends of the vertical arms projectingupward on opposite sides of the path of the stencils to receive thelatter as they are pushed longitudinally between them, and on the lowerhorizontal arms bear the ends of a spring 121, which holds the grippersin frictional contact with the edges of the stencil, but will notprevent the latter from being drawn out when sufficient force isapplied. At each side of the table are two pairs of grippers ordetents1.03, each aspring- In some actuated vertical dog pivoted at the lowerend, pressed in by a spring, and with a shoulin connection with thestencils and according to the character of the stencils. As shown, thereis a printing-frame: G pivoted to the frame of the machine at the point65 and carrying a four-armed rotating pad-carrier H, each arm of whichhas an inking-pad 66, to which I ink is applied (as thecarrierisintermittently rotated) from the ink-well or through the mediumof inking-rollers, as shown. The frame G is depressed, with one of thepads in position, as each stencil is brought to a stationary positionabove a platen J. Each pad 66 is of suificient size to cover theindicating portion of the stencil, and as it presses thereon printsthrough the same on a continuous wrapperstrip g, which is shown as astrip of paper from a roll Q, suitably supported, the sheet passing oversuitable guide-rollers,over

the table and the-platen, and down between two feed-rolls 70 71. Thefeed-rolls are driven continuously; but the roll 71 has a Y depressedportion r, so that for a moment,

while the printing is takingplace, the paper will not be fed. The paperpasses over the feed-roll, over a blade 72, the edge of which shearswith areciprocating cutter 73, whereby each printed portion of the stripis sheared from the strip, and thence drops onto a suitable support, asa table 74, Fig. 17, which gradually moves downward as the sheets aresuccessively piled thereon. A'spring 75 is arranged to lift the table,and a brake device 76, consisting of a plate pivoted at one end and witha hole for the passage of the rod 75", is controlled by a treadle 77,the plate when horizontal permitting the downward movement of the rod,but when canted binding on the rod and preventing any upward movementthereof. To prevent the adhesion of the thin paper ofthe stencil to theprintingpad, I make use of one, two, or more wires or rods 78, Fig. 9,across the face of the stencil at points where they would not interferewiththe indicating portions, and which, as shown in Fig. 9, are carriedby a frame 79, sliding upon four vertical pins 80, around each of whichis a spring 81, tending to force the plate downward upon the stencil. Tolift the plate 79 as each stencil is moved beneath it, I provide theplate 79 with hooks 82, which engage with similar hooks 83, carried bythe printing-frame G, which as it rises lifts the plate 79 with it. Inorder to facilitate the movement of the stencils, the platen J ispivoted at the point and is depressed except at the moment when theprinting takes place, when it is forced toward the printing-pad.

These various operations of the different parts may be effected by meansof various devices. As shown, a cam K upon the driving-shaft 9O swingsthe arm 91, Figs. 1 and 2, which is connected by a rod 92 to a pin uponthe cross-head 93, Figs. 5 to 7, which is connected to all of thepusher-bars. A portion of the cam K also operates upon an arm 94:, Fig.2, extending from a rock-shaft 95, and to which is connected anextensible rod 96, attached to the forward end of the printing-frame Gto raise and lower it, and from an arm 97, extending rearwardly from theshaft 95, a rod 98 extends to the arm supporting the platen J to raiseand lower it. The arm 97 also operates upon a lever 99 on a rock-shaft,from which is actuated the cutter 73. A bellcrank lever 100, pivoted onthe shaft 95, is also operated by a part of the cam K and reciprocates arod 101, thereby rocking a lever 102 upon the shaft of the pad-carrierH, which lever carries a pawl 103, which engages a ratchet 104 on theshaft of the said carrier and rotates the same intermittently. The shaftof the feed-wheel 71 is driven, by means of sprockets and a chain 105,from the shaft 90, and the slide 44.- is raised and lowered by theoperation of a lever 106, Fig. 1, pivoted to a bracket 107 and having abearing at the inner end upon the shaft 96, so as to be vibratedthereby.

While I have shown stencils or printingplates with regulator-bearingsresulting from the character of the sheet itself, it will be evidentthat they may be formed in various different ways, as by projectionsfrom the frame, or by cutting away the frame, or, as shown in Fig. 23,by disposing metallic plates 200 in different positions on theprintingplate, so as to contact with a sorter having two electricterminals between which the plate 200 completes a circuit when the partsare in contact. The shifter or distributer devices also may be made invarious forms, as switches, for directing the printingplates, whatevertheir character, to different positions.-

Although I have referred to the printingplates as stencils, that beingthe form shown, they may be of any character, and they will not in allcases be printing-plates,as when library-cards, indicating-tablets,850., must be sorted and distributed, and in such cases the distributionmay be made to any desired number of receptacles.

Although I have shown the printing-head provided with a series ofink-pads, a head having a single pad'may be used, or one or moreprinting-rollers or other inking means may be employed. In some casesthe printing devices will not be used or required, the machine servingin such cases to sort without printing.

I do not here claim providing plates with progressive bearings, as thisis the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent, Serial No.643,759.

Without limiting myself to the construction and arrangement of partsshown or to any special character of plates to be sorted, I claim as myinvention- 1. An apparatus for sorting address-plates and other articlescomprising means for directing said plates to different receptacles,said plates having differently-disposed bearings arranged to determinethe number of times the plates shall pass through the machine, a sorterupon the machine, and de vices whereby said sorter coacts with all theplates to vary the operations of the directing means, according to thepositions of the bearings, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for sorting address-plates and other articles comprisingmeans for directing said plates to different receptacles, said plateshaving differently-disposed bearings, and a sorter upon the machine,devices whereby said sorter varies the operations of the directingmeans, according to the positions of the bearings, and means whereby therelative positions of the plates and sorter may be changed from time totime, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for sorting addressplates and other articles, havingdifferentlyarranged bearings, the combination of devices fordistributing said plates to diiferent receptacles, a sorter upon themachine adjustable progressively to different positions to coactprogressively with different bearings, and devices intermediate thesorter and the plate-distributing devices for varying the action of thelatter, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for sorting addressplates and other articles havingbearings, differently and progressively arranged, the combination ofplate shifters or distributers for moving different plates in differentdirections, a sorter progressively adjustable upon a moving part of themachine and adjustable to coact progressively with the bearings, andmeans controlled by said sorter for throwing the shifters into and outof operation upon the plates, substantially as described.

5. In an addressing-machine, the combination of a receptacle for aseries of printingplates having bearings progressively disposedaccording to the number of times for which the plate is to be used,means for bringing the plates successively into printing action, plateshifters or distributers for directing the plates in differentdirections, a sorter carried by a moving part of the machine andprogressively adjustable to dilferent positions to coact with thebearings, and means for varying the action of the shifters according tothe relative positions ofthe sorter and bearings, substantially asdescribed.

6. A sorting-machine provided with a receptacle for plates to be sorted,means for feeding the plates successively therefrom, means for shiftingthe plates to distribute them in difierent directions and a sortingdevice constructed to coact with differently-disposed bearings of theplates to bring into action the shifting means, substantially as setforth.

7. A sorting-machine provided with a receptacle for plates to be sorted,means for feeding the plates successively therefrom, means for shiftingthe plates to distribute them in different directions and to reversethem in so doing, a sorting device constructed to coact with differentlydisposed bearings of the plates to bring into action the shifting means,and receptacles to which the sorted plates are directed, substantiallyas set forth.

8. The combination in a sorting and printing machine, of a receptaclefor printingplates, printing means, devices for feeding the platessuccessively from the receptacle to the printing means, shifting meansfor directing the plates in different directions from the printingmeans, and sorting devices coacting with the plates to vary the actionof the sorting devices, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with means for feeding onward a succession of plateshaving bearings differently disposed, to regulate the number of timeseach plate shall pass through the machine, a means for shifting theplates in different directions, and a sorting device constructed tocoact with all the plates to control the action of the shifting means,substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with means for feeding onward a succession of plateshaving regulating-bearings differently disposed,of a shifting ordistributing device provided with arms arranged to carry the plates indifferent directions, and a sorting device and connec tions whereby tobring the different arms into action, substantially as set forth.

11. The shifting or distributing device consisting of rock-shaftsprovided with arms extending in different directions beneath a pathtraversed by a succession of plates, a sorting device coacting with theplates, and connections whereby to control the rock-shafts from thesorting device, substantially as set forth.

12. The shifting or distributing device consisting of rock-shaftsprovided with arms extending in different directions beneath a pathtraversed by a succession of plates, catches or detents for holding theplates on the arms, a sorting device coacting with the plates, andconnections whereby to control the rockshafts from the sorting device,substantially as set forth.

13. The shifting or distributing device consisting of rock-shaftsprovided with arms extending in different directions beneath a pathtraversed by a succession of plates, catches or detents for holding theplates on the arms, a sorting device coacting with the plates,connections whereby to control the rock-shafts from the sorting device,and detents to engage the plates delivered thereto by the arms,substantially as set forth.

.14. The combination with means for feed in g forward a succession ofplates having bearings differently arranged, of a sorter provided withan adjustable pin and support therefor adapted to make contact with saidbearings, means for reciprocating said pin and support, and distributingmeans controlled from said sorter, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination With the shifting or distributing means, of a sorterprovided with a reciprocating arm, and a pin adjustable thereon,substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with the shifting or distributing means, of a sorterprovided with a reciprocating arm having a series of openings, and a pinadapted to said openings, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination of the table having dilferent channels, means forfeeding a succession of plates in said channels, means for conveying theplates from one channel to another, and a sorter and connections forcontrolling the action of said means, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination of a receptacle for holding a series of plates,means for removin g the plates successively from the bottom of saidreceptacle, other receiving-receptacles, sorting and distributingdevices, and means for feeding the sorter-plates successively to thesaid receiving-receptacles and below the plates therein, substantiallyas set forth.

19. The receiving receptacles arranged above feeding-channels for theplates, and provided with plates 29 having inclined forward edges,substantially as set forth.

20. The receiving-receptacles arranged above feeding-channels for theplates, and provided above said channels with plates 29 having inclinedforward edges combined with pushers having shoulders for engaging theplates, substantially as set forth.

21. The distributing-receptacle having a base with an opening for thedescent of plates therethrough, a channel below said opening,

and a downward central projection 10 at the end of the opening, combinedwith a pusherbar having inclined upperfaces and a pushershoulder,substantially as set forth.

22. The combination of the plate feeding and shifting devices, a sorterhaving a reciprocating arm and adjustable pin, a movable contact-platearranged in position to contact with the said pin, and connectionsbetween said plate and the shifting devices, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination with the rock-shafts of the shifting device, ofpinions thereon, racks engaging said pinions, a sorter, and connectionsfor controlling the operations of the racks, substantially as set forth.

24. The combination of the rock-shafts,

pinions and racks having lugs, a reciprocat-f STERLING ELLIOTT.

Witnesses:

MARGARET R. MAGUIRE, NIXON WATERMAN.

